If you have been editing online texts, then most likely you have encountered Google Docs. Google Docs is a writing platform that uses web 2.0 technologies, meaning it can be used for editing documents and data online. In some English classes, the use of Google Doc has been widely practiced. Even for first timers, Google Docs can be easily use and navigate. The layout and design are simple, easy to understand and easy to follow. Google Docs also comes with buttons that can be used by the editor. There are icons and symbols as well, easy to understand icons and symbols that can be used for posting. You can respond to a document or you can send a response through email without leaving Google Docs, all these options are integrated in the front page. It can also accommodate any type and form of document and it can even open spreadsheets. It can also open presentations depending on the document that you are trying to view and edit. With Google Docs, multiple users can have access to a certain folder but individual access can be given as well to keep others from viewing restricted contents and documents. Folders can be moved from one place to another and folders can be arranged based on date and time.

Editing options for Google Docs are limited to HTML and CSS and these programs can modify existing text and document as needed (Mendelson, 2011). Although modifying or editing a data can be a child’s play, there are formats that can be hard to edit and change. For example, HTML requires changing page numbers and page orientation such as columns, something that new users might find it hard to follow. Google Docs also has the capability to modify drawings and images, it can be aligned, it can be placed on a different location, and it can be transformed and so on. With Google Docs, editing possibilities can be limitless as long as you know what to click on. The only downside of Google Docs is that you can only access it with some browsers.

Once you get into Google Docs, the first thing you will notice is the editing buttons that it has. A bar is presented with different options for changing font, size, and style of font and so on. It is almost the same with the formatting tools present in a Microsoft Word with few tools missing, tools that you actually don’t use that often in MS word. For further needs like crating resumes or letterheads, there is a Google suite that provides templates for such need (Mendelson, 2011).

If Microsoft has excel, Google Docs also have one that will allow users to open excel documents. The capabilities of Google Docs excel is almost the same with Microsoft excel. The layout and options for the sizing and editing are a bit limited in Google Docs but again just like with Microsoft word, all the necessary buttons and tools that are normally used in Microsoft excel are present in Google Docs as well. The most awesome feature of Google Docs for me is its accessibility. It works like cloud computing system where in all data saved in Google Docs are accessible anywhere as long as you have internet connectivity.

I don’t think that Unions still have a place in the modern day work environment. In a country like America, there was a period in history when these unions played a very significant role. They sprang into prominence during the years of mass automobile productions in Cities like Detroit. (Zieger & Gall, 2002) During those early days, the Unions fought for things like; improved working conditions; improved pay; paid holidays and vacations; pension plans; overtime conditions and remuneration; job security as well as the now common forty hour working week. All of these requirements are now standard requirements for employees. Whether unionized or non-unionized employees,. These unions played a crucial role in improving employee to employer relations. Their activities led to the development of several Legislations that touch on employees’ welfare. (Zieger & Gall, 2002)

Power Abuse

Over the decades, unions began realizing that they wielded immense power and began the habit of abusing them. They realized that they could get and demand whatever it is that they needed by only boycotting work in case these demands were not met. These powers led to contracts being formulated between employers and their employees’ unions. (Zieger & Gall, 2002) These contracts that defined benefits, criteria of employment, as well as pay amounts eventually led to continued regular contractual negotiations. Whenever these unions did not like how the negotiations were being handled, they would threaten the other party with boycott or strike. This made the employers have no other choice, but to give in since the businesses could not survive and make profits without employees. (Zieger & Gall, 2002)

Over the years, these union jobs have become premium rated within the workforce. This is because workers that were unionized earned significantly more than their counterparts that were not unionized but did similar duties. They also had very favorable job security. With such perks and assurances of employment, the employees’ motivation took a hit. Their performance and production reduced significantly while at the same time they witness an increase to their benefits. Although there have been exceptions to this trend, this has practically been the trend due to unionization. (Zieger & Gall, 2002)

Public Unions

These are unions for employees that are paid by the governments a good example of such is the teachers’ union. When such a union’s demands increase, they are more often than not met by the governments concerned. (Zieger & Gall, 2002) We should however ask ourselves, who funds these governments? All the citizens do through the various taxation regimes. This, therefore, means that when they increase their demands, we ultimately foot the bill via our taxes. Extremely powerful unions may have been required previously when the working conditions were poor to say the least. (Zieger & Gall, 2002) However, nowadays, most of the workers’ rights and benefits are enshrined in law or international conventions. These have reduced the work of the unions. However, to remain relevant, these unions may come u with unreasonable demands to ship up emotions and marshal the work force into go-slows, boycotts and even strikes. These events can only be bad for the economy. (Zieger & Gall, 2002)

Private Unions

These are unions for employees in the private sector. A good example is the United Auto Workers. Even though, we may think that these unions do not directly affect us like their public counterparts, their activities do also impact on our lives. Increased wage demands lead to a hike in the cost of production. (Zieger & Gall, 2002) This may make American goods less competitive on the global market when compared to the Chinese produced goods. This makes companies close shop and move to the Chinese market where the wages are relatively lower and have less or nonexistent unions. This leads to loss of employment. (Zieger & Gall, 2002)